Paradip, Mar 6: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday described Paradip as “India’s economic laboratory,” underscoring its transformation from a port town into a hub of industrial innovation. Speaking at the inauguration of IFFCO’s third sulphuric acid plant, Pradhan highlighted the city’s growing role in shaping India’s economic future.

ପାରାଦୀପ ଠାରେ ମାନନୀୟ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଗୃହ ଓ ସମବାୟ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @AmitShah ଏବଂ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଙ୍କ ସହ @IFFCO_PR ର “ତୃତୀୟ ସଲଫ୍ୟୁରିକ୍ ଏସିଡ୍ ପ୍ଲାଣ୍ଟ”ର ଉଦଘାଟନ ସମାରୋହରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଏହି ନୂତନ ପ୍ଲାଣ୍ଟର ଦୈନିକ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କ୍ଷମତା ୨,୦୦୦ ମେଟ୍ରିକ୍ ଟନ୍ ରହିଛି । ପ୍ରାୟ ୭୫୦ କୋଟି ଟଙ୍କାର ଏହି… pic.twitter.com/iUbknjYtkR

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 6, 2026

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today dedicated the IFFCO’s sulphuric acid plant at Paradip in Odisha to the nation. The plant, established at a cost of Rs 750 crore, has a daily production capacity of 2,000 metric tonnes. With this facility, India will no longer need to import sulphuric acid for phosphoric acid production, thereby strengthening the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The reduction in fertiliser production costs will ensure timely and affordable supply to millions of farmers across Odisha and the country.

Pradhan recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dedication of the Paradip refinery in February 2016, noting that the vision of “Purvodaya” – the rise of eastern India – is now becoming a reality. He stressed that India’s overall development is incomplete without the progress of its eastern states. Over the past decade, Paradip has received special allocations in the Union Budget, with major institutions such as Indian Oil, IFFCO, and PPL driving economic growth in the region.

Also Read: Amit Shah Inaugurates IFFCO’s Sulphuric Acid Plant In Odisha

Expressing confidence in Paradip’s future, Pradhan said its prosperity would transform Odisha into a key pillar of India’s economy. He also referred to Amit Shah’s guiding principle of “Sahakar se Samriddhi” (prosperity through cooperation), noting that reforms in the cooperative sector have empowered even the poor to dream big and achieve success.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, and MLA Amarendra Das were, among others, present on the occasion.